The African-American Literature and Culture Society invites proposalsrelated to the following topic, for a session at the American LiteratureAssociation meetings in Boston [May 24-27, 2007].

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Examining Popular African-American Literature

The past decade has shown an efflorescence of African American popularliterature, especially genre fiction (e.g., mysteries, romance/erotica,"gangsta" literature). Why are black audiences clamoring for thesesorts of novels? What social messages do novels in each of these genresconvey? Do African-American popular novels generally affirmstereotypical visions of black identity, or does one find strategies ofresistance to stereotypical views of blackness inscribed in them? Inwhat, if any, ways does African-American popular literature differ frompopular literature directed primarily at white audiences?